Question 1

How many shark attacks have been recorded involving the basking shark?

Accepted Answer

7 incidents in the Global Shark Attack File mention the basking shark, of which 2 were fatal (28.6%). Note that witness species identifications are often uncertain, so this is the count of recorded incidents.

Question 2

Where do most basking shark incidents occur?

Accepted Answer

The countries with the most recorded basking shark incidents are Scotland, United States.

Question 3

Is the basking shark dangerous to humans?

Accepted Answer

The basking shark is considered relevant to human-shark incidents and has been recorded in the Global Shark Attack File. As with any large shark, encounters in the wild should be avoided.

Question 4

Where does this species data come from?

Accepted Answer

Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.

Basking Shark

Recorded incidents involving the basking shark

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